High winds force diversion of 17 Denver flights

DENVER (AP) -- High winds sweeping across Colorado's Front Range forced the diversion of 17 flights scheduled to land at the Denver International Airport.

DIA spokeswoman Laura Coale says 11 flights were diverted to Colorado Springs Airport, five went to Cheyenne Regional Airport and one was sent to Fort Collins-Loveland Airport between about 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Friday. She didn't know how many airlines were involved.

Coale says at one point, incoming flights were delayed by more than an hour and a half, while departing flights were delayed between half an hour and an hour.

National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Dankers says the peak wind gust between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. was 34 mph.

Winds shifted late Friday morning, allowing air traffic controllers to use more runways at DIA.